The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-13
icon, shaking in turn until the urnisuts droTf'ea
out then it's time for me to be disappearing
And it hid itself behind the Office Sable.
MRS. JENNESS MILLER'S LECTURE.
A Reform Dress Which Combines Comfort.
Beauty and Utility.

Judging from the large attendance at the lect-
ure on .sWoman's Dress" delivered by Mrs
Annie Jennese Miller at the residence OF Mrs T.
l.. Sewall, yesterday afternoon. and the enthu-
siastic admiration and approval of the gar
ments displayed in illustration OF
the speakers ideas, the ladies
of Indianapolis are ready to welcome reform in
dress. Mrs Miller, who u.s. by the way, pretty.
graceful woman of slender build, admirably
adapted to set off handsome gowns Of any de-
scrption, dwelt at length upon the evils OF COM
pressing the body with corsets and dragging it
down with heavy skirts. All her hearers were
probably more or less familiar with the physio-
logical arguments used. but with an object
lesson before them in the shane OF
waist that had never known stays and
form that could go through any sort of calls
thenic movements with even the outer garments
on the effect was much more impressive. Not
withstanding the fact that it is common to hear
women declare that they ''cannot live without
corsets," hut very faint murmurS of dissent
were heard to the lady's dunuuciation of the
| steel and whalebone instrument of torture, as
! she designated the gove-ftting article of dress.
| When. to illustrate the reform advocated. Mrs
Miller displayed the different garments, prelu
| vanished and those who came to condemn
were ready to praise. The first garment
assumed is q combination suit of gauze. silk or
wool: over this a cotton snit OF pattern similar
to what is facetously known as the chemi-
| loon" and long since adopted by many women
for their own use. Over this again is pair OF
trousers, or, they are named to save the feel
| ings of the male sex, '1eglets." These leglets
are made of any material the wearer chooses,
but preferably of some lieht-weighted wooden
| goods of dark color. These trousers extend
| to the ankle. There are petticoa.s.
| the gown itself going on over the trousers.
| Every gown is made upon what is called a
Princess foundation. but the effect is varied
| by the arrangement of draperies and trimmings
| so that there is sameness in the costumes.
| The first dress was tea gown OF light gray
with sleeves and panel of salmon pink; then a
| brocaded house dress of heavy olive silk. 4
| purple plush calling dress was trimmed with sill
YER fox fur, and an evening costume
| was of green velvet and cream
| tinted cashmere, and trimmed with
| embroidery, made in Grecian style. The
| sleeves of the dresses differ in style, and were
| feature particularly admired The costumes
| are very picturesque. and the original design OIL
| Mrs. Miller. Attired in them sine presented q
beautiful picture. and the appreciation of the
| ladies shown by applause. During the
| illustrations many questions were asked by
| those present, and answered by Mrs. Miller al
| considerable length Mrs. Sewall met Mrs
| Miller while in Washington, and for the benefit
instruction and health of the pupils OF the
Classical School persuaded her to come here and
| give the lecture.
The girls of the school and their mothers
were invited by Mrs. Sewall to spend last even
| ing with Mrs. Miller, and many of them accept
ed tine invitation. The conversation was gener
| ally upon the subject of dress REFORM and since
the lecture many ladies will seek enlightenment
Most of those present on both afternoon and
evening expressed themselves in harmony
| with the ideas advanced and the reform will
doubtless soon be inaugurated. it the modiste!
can be brought to the same way of thinking as
their customers.